Terry recalls his time in New Orleans, and all the "firsts" he experienced which shaped his life.
New Orleans will always be near and dear to me for so many reasons:.
I attended Southern University for a couple of years on a band scholarship; it's where I learned I had an addiction to beignets; I also have yet to find crawfish on this Earth anywhere near what that place serves up.
I left my little town of Zuni, Virginia at 17, turning 18 in The Big Easy as I graduated a year early from high school, and took on the challenge of playing saxophone in one of America's leading college bands.
"Baby love, we're so proud of you," my mother told me after the first semester, but I knew right then, nothing would come easy as college life in itself was a bear.
I ended up forfeiting the remainder of my scholarship after sophomore year, but stayed in the city working, and living with a former bandmate, while working odds and ends jobs. I didn't want to go back to Zuni as I felt I'd be regulated to nothing, going back the way I came. Paulie, the bandmate and a senior brass player, came to my aid at the behest of Stacey, a fellow sax player and good friend of mine of which Paulie had a crush on, and they'd "work something out" to where I could crash on Paulie's couch, while working a low tier gig at his grandfather's grocery store.
"You might be scrimping and struggling to save money, but you still gotta go out," Stacey told me one evening.
Stacey was like my sister while down in New Orleans. She was a year ahead of me and we just meshed, as she was a local native of the area and loved playing the instrument the same. She was heartbroken when I cut school, but made sure she remained my cheerleader as she saw to it I'd be able to maintain on my feet.
"Let's hit the street. I can Cashapp you a few dollars, get you a nice outfit and some shoes, and let's go out," she mentioned
She took me to the city's jazz museum to endure the funk fest, an annual event where the local jazz culture was celebrated. She knew my heart broke when I stepped from band, and was dead set on me still following my dream of being a world-renown musician.
"You can be a broke musician, but a musician nonetheless," I remember her saying as we were in the Uber.
We attended the event and saw all types of celebrities, heard some stories and lectures, and of course came across musicians from far and near, as this brought up my vibe. We visited this event on the third and final day when we decided to hit up Bourbon Street and went to Fritzel's, one of the city's oldest jazz clubs.
"If we're gonna do it, let's do it big," she said as she had a friend running the club, with her claiming he'd let us in free (there was a cover charge due to a popular band headlining that night).
This would be my first time visiting the place, and I fell in love once we entered as we endured a debonair crowd filling the air with their sophisticated perfumes, and a group on stage totally lighting up the scene. We were seated and I immediately closed my eyes to vibe with the tenor saxophone that was gracing our ears. I tapped my feet and got lost in the rhythm, then transitions from note to note, and the overall cadence of whatever the band was playing as tears streamed down my face.
"What's wrong, Terry," Stacey asked.
"Nothing," I told her as I just smiled, then let her know that the flow of the music brought out the emotions in me.
She grabbed my hand and smiled as the band stopped playing, then we, along with the rest of the crowd rose to our feet to give an applause.
"Hey Kevin," yelled Stacey once the applause stopped.
A well-dressed bearded, chubby, white dude would come over, smiling ear to ear with rings in each one.
"Kev, this is Terry. Terry, this is Kevin."
"Nice to meet you, my friend," he said, as I touched his soft hands.
Kevin, with a piercing under his lip, was a taller gentleman with a bit of a local twang, in his mid to late 50s dressed dapperly in what looked like a dark purple suit, and complimentary tie and shirt to match. He was the manager, and assured us that whatever wanted or needed, he'd provide.
"You two buzzards just promise you'll hold your liquor," he said to us.
We both laughed because Stacey was 21, and I hadn't crossed over to 20, but had my share of spirits since I lived in New Orleans. I wasn't a newbie to having a good time in the city and assured Kevin I wouldn't be a problem, then he hugged me, smelling like a million bucks in whatever expensive cologne he wore.
"I've gotta check on the next act. I want you two to hang around afterwards, I've got something for you," he said.
He had a waiter bring us dinner and a drink each, and the next act, an amateur band from Baltimore, tore up the stage as it was the perfect setting. Once again I was caught in the music, but this time while devouring my chicken wing prior to closing my eyes, and letting the tears flow due to the delicious vittles and music combination. Stacey laughed, as the liquor ran through her system quickly before she'd ask me about Kevin.
"You think he's gay," she asked out of the blue.
I opened my eyes and looked at her.
"I mean its obvious, but what do you think about him," she asked.
I wasn't thinking too heavy of this man other than high regard, for he allowed us to chill and be pampered in such an esteemed establishment.
"This is the final night of the festival and we're having a good time," I told her. "Does Crwn Royal do this to you?"
"I think he's cute, and I could turn him," she said.
I giggled and wondered if her drink went straight to her head, as Kevin, though masculine in this appearance, was clearly for other men. She had a thing for him and claimed she'd "shoot her shot," and I advised her that she'd miss miserably, and chance losing a legit friend.
"You know something I don't know," she asked.
I laughed while the band continued to play, and reiterated the obvious.
"So you think you'd have a better chance of getting at him," she asked.
I ignored her, for I wasn't thinking of being with another man and just living in the moment. I finished my wings and my drink, and became somewhat irritated before I let my mind wander. I myself was still "new," as in I'd never been intimate with anyone at 19. It was partly from growing up in a sheltered, strict household of two parents in the church, as even getting a full ride to a school in New Orleans was frowned upon by them. I'd courted girls, but never really went beyond taking them to eat, and even saw a few porn flicks of straight encounters, but couldn't really get into them. Stacey was clearly inebriated as she rambled on about Kevin, and now my thoughts shifted to him, for I had a smidge of pondering that maybe he started out the same way I did. When the band finished, people were leaving as that was the last set, and the place was closing. Kevin would come to us when the crowd dispersed, handing us memorabilia from the club as he was about to close up.
"You two drove here," he asked me.
I told him no, and he offered to give us a ride home once he had his crew clean the bar.
"Take you two home, no Uber, taxi or anything," he said to us.
He knew Stacey had too much to drink and worried I, too, couldn't handle my liquor, but I was smooth, as my tolerance was high compared to my older friend. Kevin and his team finished cleaning, then he made everyone exit before he pulled around his super duty pickup to take us home.
"Let's get her in the car," he said to me as we lifted Stacey into the rear passenger seat.
We both climbed into the vehicle and he drove off before asking me questions.
"So where you from, yankee," he asked.
"Virginia originally," I told him.
"Virginia? As in Richmond? Virginia Beach? Where at," he asked in aggression.
I told him Zuni, as it was clear Kevin was protective of Stacey, which made it more weird she claimed to be attracted to the good smelling bear. He kept inquiring and learned that I had genuine, mutual love for Stacey, as I looked to her as if she was my sister.
"Being we got that out the way, I'm guessing you have a girlfriend," he asked.
"I don't, at all," I told him before we connected eyes.
He'd turn his head to look forward, but had the biggest grin on his face.
"What," I asked, trying to figure him out.
"As handsome as you are, son, I figured you'd have these thirsty little bitches throwing it at you. Especially being you were in the band," he added.
He purposely passed our neighborhood while Stacey was snoring, with he and I now having an in-depth conversation.
"I'm not that kind of guy," I told him.
"What kind of guy are you," he asked.
"A guy with a little more morals and knows what he wants," I said as I tried to impress Kevin.
The truth of the matter was that I was still trying to figure things out. We ended up sitting at a red light, and I stopped rambling once he and I made eye contact. He smiled, and I returned the gesture while trying to figure out what was on his mind. The light turned green, and he winked at me before looking forward.
"Whomever snags you, seems like they'll be quite the lucky one," he said as he drove.
I felt the flirtatiousness and felt warm inside, all of a sudden thinking how cute Kevin was, and how attracted I was to him. At this very moment I knew I'd never look at a woman again as this man was turning me out mentally, making me choose the type of partner I'd want without even touching me. He made a turn into our neighborhood, and we'd make it to Stacey's place first to ensure she got in the house. I tapped her shoulder and she came to, and allowed us to walk her inside to ensure she made it to her bedroom, with the help of her roommates. Kevin and I left, and instead of me heading home, he asked if we could ride around a bit more.
"It's 3 a.m.," I told him.
"So what? I can't just ride around a bit more," he asked with that devilish grin.
I concurred, and I climbed back into the passenger seat as I was starting to feel a little more comfortable talking to him. His sweet and southern tone of voice was calming at this point, and seemed to align with The Commodores, the band crooning us on his stereo. He'd even sing a bit and suddenly, I was falling for this complete stranger as we pulled into what I learned was his driveway.
"I gotta ask a question," he said.
"Shoot."
"I'm asking if you'd like to come into my place?"
In another world, this was probably a bit too forward too soon, but Kevin was in my head. He knew I wanted to be with him in whatever magnitude, and my heart was racing when he asked the question.
"You ask this as we're sitting in your driveway," I told him.
"I've got a tank full of diesel still," he told me with his hand on the gearshift.
His right hand was touching my knee, and I gasped, and had a sudden erection as his eyes dug into my soul. He rubbed my knee, then cut off the engine as the look on my face said yes.
"Come on," he told me as we exited the truck and walked into his house, with him unlocking the front door.
We sat in his living room, with me finding a seat on the couch while he grabbed the remote and turned on the television. He'd head to the bedroom to change out of his suit, returning shortly to wear what looked like a gown, and his black socks.
"Thirsty?"
"I'm good," I told him before he sat beside me, and encouraged me to lay across his lap.
He rubbed my forehead as a rerun of The Jeffersons was playing, and for some reason I felt super relieved to be laying in his lap.
"You comfortable," he asked and I told him yes, then smiled before I closed my eyes and would open them when he kissed my forehead.
His piercing eyes connected with mine once again, and then the next kiss landed on my nose, then another to my lips as now he slipped his tongue.
"Now was that so bad," he asked as Kevin gave me my first kiss.
There was magic in this sudden meet, with Kevin seducing me with his soft voice, and now the feeling of his hand as he rubbed my chest.
"Take your shirt off," he said, and I obliged, with him now rubbing my breasts.
"My God, you are sexy."
He at first cupped my nipples, followed by pinching them a bit as I learned I liked it. He kept doing it until I screamed out loud, and he'd snicker, then tell me to come out of my pants. I stood up, and did what he desired as he, too, would stand up to let his robe fall. I'd never been so happy to see another man naked like I did of this polar bear, for he was hairy all over with a thick, pierced chest and belly. He had a little cock and thick thighs to hide it, and brought his six foot four frame over to place his arms around me as we kissed some more. This was total heaven to have this man touching and kissing on me, then groping me as he stroked my dick and took me to initial sexual heights. It felt better than masturbating as he seemed to have the perfect touch, then he kneeled down to his knees, and for the first time, put a mouth on me as I wanted to scream.
"Oh wait a minute," I whimpered.
"Unh uh, there's no wait a minute," he said before he wrapped his lips around my shaft, and twirled his skull.
I was getting head for the first time as he slowly gorged on my manhood, seeming worlds away from the shy, nervous Terry from Zuni. I watched him do me as his eyes were closed, looking totally focused as his thick lips were surrounded by his beard hairs. I noticed his cheeks inward from the added pressure, and he'd put his big, bear hands on my hips for something to hold on to. He opened his eyes briefly to look at me, then winked before closing them and getting back to getting me off.
"This can't be real," I said of the pleasure.
I was getting blown by another man, something I learned to enjoy more than anything else sexually. Me wanking off couldn't hold a candle to Kevin as he made sure I was delighted. He latched on to my nipples with his fingers while he sucked it harder, even growling a bit as I was getting weak in the knees. This felt like that first time I came, some five years later when I was going through puberty and got "curious." The sensation I experienced them rehashed, and Kevin, being the hungry bear he was, was dead set on getting my honey.
"Cum for me," he whispered as he stopped sucking, and began stroking. "Right here on my tongue, son, give it to me."
His aggressive strokes had me moaning, and seeing stars to where I had to close my eyes. The buildup was real, and he pulled on this dick of mine harder, and faster, spewing naughty words until I began to moan and cry.
"Kevin, don't," I said foolishly before he put his lips on the tip.
"Oh Kevin, please."
"Please what?!! Give me that nut, boy," he yelled in a booming voice and I released, with him closing his lips in the nick of time.
He moaned and pushed his head forward like a proud bottom, getting every ounce of what I lost down his throat. He made it down to the base, then pulled upward from the base, to the shaft, then the shaft to the tip to make sure he got every drop.
"Some good, got damned cum," he said to me.
I would kneel, and he'd grab pillows from the couch for us to lay on, and we cuddled on the carpeted floor.
"I couldn't help myself," he said after. "I had to have you, son."
I looked at him and he looked back, and we kissed, then held each other tighter as the bond was created. We'd see each other a few more times as he would turn out to be the only man I'd see in New Orleans, many times discreetly as not even Stacey knew we were meeting. Six months after the first link, I'd leave the city, and head back north to start fresh and get on with my life.
"One of these days I'll make my way up to Virginia," he told me.
I kept my fingers crossed, but it never happened, as he became a memory etched in my head of the great city I'll always have love for.
I was "easy," in The Big Easy.